Evolution?

The word written there just showed something like an error. While he wondered about this, another notification appeared.

[Do you want to use a red gemstone to supplement mana cost? One red gem is worth 1000 mana. You can use it to summon 2 Krell Scouts. The leftover will be used to recover the user's mana.]

'Yes.' It was a no-brainer decision for Ben. He could just look for a gem mine near the area, then gather more. Two masses of flesh appeared in the air, squirming and growing in size. In real time, the bones, organs, flesh, and chitin are all formed.

Their appearance was just like Ben envisioned. After appearing, both of them kneeled on the ground. 'Sovereign, we heed your command.'

Elvira's eyes lit up as she studied both creatures, walking around them. Occasionally, she would knock on their shell. "Can I give both of them names?"

"Do as you will." Ben replied, uninterested. He did have the option to give them names, but his focus now was more on the information window.

[Name: unnamed 

Type: Krell Scout 

Evolution: not available

*Evolution is dependent on the individual's personal experience; it's not guaranteed and can only be triggered under special circumstances.

*Requirements will show up when the creature is evolvable.]

'What does this mean?' Ben quickly thought back to the games he loved to play. If the requirement wasn't clear, usually it would be related to how the creature lived, ate, and its own mood or emotion. 

But these two Krell Scouts were different. They were linked with the hive mind and didn't have personal thoughts. If Ben ordered both of them to kneel, they would do that until they died of malnutrition without any complaints. Something that creatures with their own will wouldn't do.

"Aqua and Airi, how about that?"

"Both female names? They are genderless, though."

"Then it's fine, right?" Ben shrugged his shoulders. He registered it as their Name and then sent out his first order.

"Look for the location of the ant queen's nest. Avoid confrontation if you cannot go for the kill."

"Yes, Sovereign." Both of them replied in unison, then stood up to carry out Ben's order.

"Is it alright if I go with them, my beloved?" Ben quickly agreed.

"Finally, some silence. Now, I should create some weapons for them to use."

Ben took out some bronze ore, which was the block he had recovered from killing the royal ants. He started crafting weapons: a pair of daggers, a crossbow, and armor. But just after he finished one set, he got a notification.

[Not enough mana, Mana: 1/250]

'The fuck, a single set should only cost 99 mana. Does this mean I just recovered 100 mana before? This fucking system.'

[Tax!]

"AAARGGGH!!!!" Ben screamed in frustration. 

A week had passed by. Ben spent this time building the kingdom. He created the design and then spent his time digging. At first, he tried to do it like a dungeon, creating a maze everywhere with some rooms. But after a few days, he realized it felt very suffocating and confusing. It was also annoying to move through the maze, wasting a lot of time every time he returned. 

Thus, he created two layers. The inner layer consisted of a huge sphere, then separated into two sides. The upper sphere was a living area, while the lower sphere was some kind of factory. With his experience as a construction worker and handyman, Ben created many machines. But each cost him materials and adaptation so they could be used by the ants. Of the 25 ant workers, 20 were ordered to help with construction, while the rest took care of maintaining their meals.

Despite not being human, Ben still preferred cooked food. So he enforced this on all his people. The ants' main consumption came from mushrooms, which they called red-spotted mush trees. 

There was a reason it was called a tree; they were tall and big. Even underground, it easily grew to ten meters. The body was white, while the cap was red in color, adorned with white spots. The appearance reminded Ben of his favorite childhood game, one that wouldn't be mentioned since the company that created it was very famous with the copyright god.

Ben decided to call the area where this mushroom grew the Red Spot Forest. It was a huge opening, with a very large red-spotted mush tree in the middle. This tree acted like a pillar, allowing the ceiling to not collapse. With a pickaxe on his shoulder, Ben looked at the forest. 

Right now, he took one of the ant soldiers as his mount, while the other three were fighting against a huge mantis. Its sharp scythe gleamed, cutting down toward one of the ants. But another came, catching it mid-air. Unfortunately, even with its strong jaw, it barely broke the mantis' chitin. The last soldier ant came, tackling the mantis to the ground. 

'As I thought, ants can only use their jaws or tackle in their attacks. Their limbs are only useful for them to walk around. They are useless, even in work; the jobs they can do are very limited.' 

Ben kicked at the ant's back and leaped into the sky. With the pickaxe in hand, he hit the mantis in the chest. 'Take this, you green bug! Send you flying!'

Executing the skill, the mantis was pushed back by 4 meters. The mantis then tried to stand up, but the four ant soldiers had already made their move. Utilizing the opportunity, their jaws cut through the cracked armor. The mantis screeched in pain. Ben then came close, his hand starting to transform.

"CONSUME!!" It turned into a huge mouth filled with a sharp array of teeth. With a single gulp, the whole mantis was eaten.

[Nightmare Mantis consumed. Acquired 12 biomass, no new part.]

'Dammit, my luck is so bad. This is the tenth mantis we've hunted.' Ben clicked his tongue in annoyance, then ordered the ant soldiers to chop the mushroom tree.